Electric Traxter Utility Terrain Vehicle From Switzerland Launches

The Swiss technology company ecovolta, a division of ecocoach AG, together with the vehicle and boat specialists at Friedli Vehicles AG, has electrified the well-known Can-Am Traxter for the first time. The vehicle is used in the mountain village of Stoos, which is located in the Swiss canton of Schwyz at an altitude of over 1,900 meters. The Traxter enables emission-free transport there, even on rough terrain. ecovolta has equipped the utility terrain vehicle (UTV) with an electric drive train and a 30 kWh lithium-ion traction battery.

E-Traxter ready for off-road use in all seasons

The central factor in the development of the electric transport vehicle was its ability to be used in all seasons. The new E-Traxter offers enough torque for tracked operation on snow-covered roads and rough terrain. The electric version only resembles its predecessor with a combustion engine on the outside.

The new electric motor has an enormous torque of 150 Nm and a peak output of 38 kilowatts. Equipped with wheels, the E-Traxter can reach up to 60 km/h off-road, with caterpillars the speed is halved. With a charging time of six hours, the lithium-ion battery from ecovolta offers a range of up to 120 kilometers.

Thanks to all-wheel drive and differential lock as well as the optional upgrade with a cable winch, the vehicle can be used in a variety of ways - e.g. B. for climate-neutral, environmentally friendly and quiet agriculture and forestry, as a municipal vehicle or for postal delivery in mountain regions.

Development of the electric all-purpose vehicle closes a gap in the market

The background to the development of the electric vehicle was an inquiry from Stoos Bahnen AG to the local sales partner and Can-Am dealer. The cable car company was looking for an electric all-purpose vehicle for emission-free material and passenger transport. Since there was no suitable offer either from the Canadian Traxter manufacturer Bombardier Recreational Products or in their own market area, the idea for a retrofit was born - to convert the Traxter to electric operation.

ecovolta has already electrified numerous other vehicle types with the drive kit used for the Traxter. The kit enables a short time-to-market and thus accelerates the development and production of small series for OEMs, fleet operators, general importers and other vehicle suppliers.

«Emission-free mobility is a must for a sustainable future in mountain regions. That's why we want to close gaps in the ecological and economic sense," says Patrick Friedli from Friedli Vehicles AG, which has been the general importer of the Canadian leisure vehicle and engine manufacturer BRP and other power sports vehicle manufacturers for Switzerland and the Principality of Lichtenstein for 20 years."

"As a manufacturer of high-performance battery systems for electric vehicles, ecovolta has the necessary expertise in system integration," says Patrick Friedli. Due to the company headquarters in Brunnen, there is also a strong connection to the mountain area. "The cooperation between us, Friedli Vehicles AG and Stoos Bahnen was obvious," says Benjamin Friedrich, Chief Operating Officer of ecovolta.

The vision of the emission-free mountain village is getting closer

The Stoos Bahnen use the vehicle in addition to food deliveries for remote restaurants, inspection and control passages of the railways also for taxi services for visitors to the Stoos mountain area. "The Traxter can be used very flexibly and, thanks to the electric drive, fits in very well with our vision of the emission-free mountain village," says Martin Langenegger, Managing Director of Stoosbahnen.

Ecovolta is a Swiss manufacturer of high-performance battery systems for electric vehicles and machines. Battery and drive solutions are developed and tested in our own research and development department. The range of services also includes order development, system integration and maintenance of the battery systems. ecovolta is a division of the technology company ecocoach AG and is headquartered in Brunnen, where the ecovolta Swissfactory plant is also located.